1) After also having watched all of the videos, I think the overall quality went up from last year. Many teams that don't get an honorable mention this year would have easily gotten one last year. (assuming the same number of honorable mentions)
2) Our video isn't outstanding, but I had fun making it. I know everyone involved had a good time making it. We set out to make a FIRST parody music video with a video that wasn't overly cringey, and I would say we did just that. We learned a lot, and I think we can use the things we learned to make a better video next year if we so chose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgdjMcc25t4
3) I have been desensitized to cringe after watching all of last year's and this year's submissions.
4) I don’t see how teams making objectively lower quality music videos is different from teams making objectively lower quality robots. The product, the robot or in this case the video, is not what it’s about. It’s about the experience gained from trying to create the best product you can with the resources and experience you have.
HOWEVER
5) In general, these videos are a terrible way to “Make it Loud".
If a random high schooler watches a FIRST parody, what impression does it give them? What about a middle schooler? Adult?
Whatever you think the answer to that question is, I bet you would agree other types of videos do a better job of giving non-FIRST people a positive impression about FIRST. Isn’t that the ultimate goal of Making it Loud?
I think this is the main reason FIRST should consider putting a larger emphasis on promoting other team produced media instead of the music videos. Reveal vids, season recaps, weekly updates, competition videos, and more. These can more easily be done at a higher level, and they don’t almost always induce cringe.